Saturday matinee weekend in May is when Broadway separates the planners from the regretters. If you wake up before 9 a.m., open the TodayTix app, and enter a couple of digital lotteries, you can get yourself into a hit Broadway show for the price of a decent dinner. Here is exactly what to chase on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Don’t Miss: Hamilton’s $10 Front-Row Lottery
The Hamilton digital lottery at the Richard Rodgers Theatre remains the best ticket price in all of Broadway — $10 for front-row orchestra seats. A limited number are available for each performance, including Saturday matinee and Sunday matinee on May 16 and 17. Enter the lottery via Broadway Direct or the Hamilton app the day before, and check your email the morning of the show. Lose? Try again Sunday. The odds are not great, but the math says ten bucks for front-row Hamilton is mathematically the best deal on this island.
Wicked: Student Rush at $45 (Last Two Weeks)
Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre is offering a $45 student rush ticket through May 31, 2026 — so this weekend is one of your last chances to use it. Show up at the Gershwin box office day-of with a valid student ID. Wicked also offers a digital lottery via TodayTix for $55 most performances and $65 for Friday evening, Saturday matinee, Saturday evening, and Sunday matinee. The $45 student rush is the better deal if you qualify.
Lion King: $30 Digital Lottery
The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre runs a $30 digital lottery via Broadway Direct, with entries accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the day before the performance. Saturday matinee tickets are especially family-friendly and the show holds up better than almost any long-runner on Broadway. Enter Friday morning for Saturday matinee, or Saturday morning for Sunday matinee.
Beaches, A New Musical: $49 Lottery at the Majestic
The new stage adaptation of Beaches is running at the Majestic Theatre with a $49 digital lottery. Entries open at midnight the day before each performance and close at 3 p.m. the day before, with winners drawn at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Two draws means two chances — set yourself a reminder.
Every Brilliant Thing: $45 Daily Box-Office Rush
Daniel Radcliffe’s one-person Broadway show Every Brilliant Thing at the Hudson Theatre offers a $45 general rush ticket on the day of performance. Show up at the Hudson box office starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or noon on Sundays. This show — a moving piece about depression, loss, and finding joy — is the kind of theater that hits harder when you score a cheap last-minute seat than when you plan for it three months out.
What’s Just Opening: Celebrity Autobiography
If you want to be in the room early on something brand new, Celebrity Autobiography begins previews at the Shubert Theatre on Saturday, May 16, 2026, ahead of an official opening on Monday, May 18. The show features rotating casts of stars performing comedic dramatic readings of actual celebrity autobiographies. Preview pricing is typically lower than post-opening pricing, so this is the week to grab seats if the concept sounds like your thing.
Saturday Matinee Strategy
Most Broadway matinees start between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with evening performances at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. The Saturday matinee is the sweet spot for tourists because you get a full day in the city afterward, but it is also the toughest lottery slot because demand peaks. If your lottery hopes are dashed, swing by the TKTS booth at Times Square — Saturday matinee TKTS lines move fast in the morning, with discounts typically running 20% to 50% off face value on whatever still has unsold seats by curtain.
How to Actually Win a Lottery
The mechanics matter. Enter every show you’d actually see. Use a real email address and check it the morning of the show. If you win, you typically have a 60-minute window to pay. Most lotteries are mobile-only via TodayTix or Broadway Direct, so download both apps before you start. Hamilton remains its own ecosystem — use the Hamilton app or Broadway Direct lottery page directly.
Coming up next week: Mariska Hargitay makes her Broadway debut starting May 26. Watch for rush and lottery announcements once previews settle in.
